Vehicle driving mechanism.



w. LUXMORE.

vmcL omv'me MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2' I914- 1,203,638. Patented Nov. 7, 916.

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fiiii? Y W. LUXMORE. VEHICLE DRIVING MECHANISM. APFLICATIO'N FILED NOV. 2. 19:4.

1 Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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WILLIAM LUXMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE DRIVING- MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Iatented Nov. 7, 1916;

'Application filed November 2, 1914. Serial No. 869,806.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM LUXMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Driving sturdy construction and which may be economically manufactured. V

The construction of my nnproved driving mechanism 18 such that the drivlng wheels of a vehicle withv which the mechanism is associated are permitted to revolve at different speeds, as for instance, when the veinole turns a corner or otherwise departs from a straight line of travel, and this result accomplished without employing any one of the several forms of differential gears which have been universally employed in the past to secure this result.

My invention contemplates the provision of a number of improved features of construction and mode of operation, all of which are fully set forth in the following detailed description, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which,

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the vehicle driving mechanism embodying my invention, Fig. "2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of that portion of the mechanism associated with one of the driving wheels of the vehicle, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a portion of the driving shaft and one of the blocks or driving elements arranged to be locked or placed in'driving or driven relation to one ofthe driving wheels of the vehicle, Fig. at is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a slightly modi lied embodiment of my invention, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed view illustrating a slightly modified form of block and associated ring for preventing displacement, and

assuring simultaneous operation of the several locking dogs associated with the block, and Fig. 6 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a modified embodiment of my invention wherein the vehicle driving wheels are provided with roller bearin s and the devices for operatively connecting the driving shaft and wheels are readilyaccessible from the outer sides of the wheels.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

, Referring first to Fig. 1, I have illustrated at 7 a vehicle axle upon which the vehicle driving wheels are arranged to be mounted. Loosely mounted upon opposite ends of the axle are the driving wheels, each of which comprises a brake drum 8 having an integral hub 9. Radiating from the hubs 9 are the spokes 10, which are securely clamped in position between rings 11 and the adjacent brake drums 8 by suitable bolts 12, or other equivalent means. have it understood that while I have illustrated the vehicle driving wheels in some detail the essential features of my invention may be utilized in connection with any form of vehicle driving wheel. Any suitable means may be provided for driving the axle 7, as for instance, the chain drive mech anism illustrated in Fig. 1. This mechanism comprises a sprocket wheel and achain 14 arranged to operatively connect the sprocket wheel 18 with the vehicle power plant.

Disposed within each of the drums 8 is an annular element 15 which is rigidly secured to the drum by suitable screws or bolts as illustrated. Each of the annular members 15 is disposed concentric with the axis of the axle 7 and is provided with re atively heavy internal ratchet teeth as is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Secured to each of the annular members 15 by any suitable means isa plate 16 which is provided with a relatively long sleeve or hub 17 fitting around the axle 7. Disposed concentric with each of the annular members 15 is a substantially circular block or disk 18, each of said disks being located in the space formed between one of the brake I wish to 1 her 15.

' therein, through drums 8 and its associated plate 16. Each of the blocks or disks 18 is splined to the axle 7 or is otherwise arranged to be fixed with respect to the axle.

As is perhaps most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 a plurality of recesses 19 are formed in the periphery of each of the blocks or disks 18 and disposed in each of said recesses is a dog 20 provided with ratchet teeth arranged to engage and cooperate with the internal ratchet teeth of its associated annular member 15. As is illustrated in Fig. 2 each of the dogs 20 is provided with cam surfaces 21 and 22, arranged to coZip-' erate with corresponding cam surfaces 21 and 22 formed on the associated disk or block 18. As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 I find it desirable to have the coiiperating cam surfaces somewhat oblique to each other. I wish to state at this point that in practice I find it desirable to have the cooperating ratchet teeth of the annular members 15'and. dogs 20 quite heavy. I find that teeth which at their points have angles of substantially 120 degrees are quite satisfactory.

Formed in the blocks or disks 18 adjacent each one of the dogs 20 is an opening 23, in which operates a spring'pressed plunger 24.

7 It will. be seen that the spring 25 associated with each plunger normally tends to hold the associated dog 20 in engagement with the teeth of its coi lperating annular mem Disposed around each of the blocks or disks 18 is a ring 26 having openings which pass the dogs 20 and in which the said dogs are freelyfdisposed. The arrangement is such that no one of the several dogs associated with one of the blocks 18 may move angularly with respect to the block without at the same time mov- 7 ing the o her dogs.

with the cooperating The slot 27 in which is carried a rocker-shaft 28. The rocker-shaft 1s 1 ro'vided at its ends with crank arms .29, the free end of each crank arm being fitted in an aperture 30 in the associated ring 26. Each of the blocks or disks 18 has a sector thereof cut away as illustrated at 31 in Fig. 2 in order that the crank arms 29 of the rocker-shaft may be axle 7 is provided with a longitudinal direction indicated by. v the surfaces of the block or disk 1,2os,ess

members 15. When the blocks 18 are rotated in the direction'indicted by the arrow in Fig. 2, as before stated, the cam surfaces of the blocks 18 are brought into engagement with their cooperating cam sur faces 22 of the dogs 20 and thus the teeth of the dogs are'forced tightly into engage ment with the teeth of the annular members 15 to lock the annular members 15 with respect to the blocks 18 and axle 7. hen this locking occurs, as set forth, each of the wheels is, of course, positively driven from the axle 7 upon which it is mounted. As the vehicle departs from a straight line of ravel one of the driving wheels will rotate faster than the other, as is well known to those in the art to which my invention relates. l i hen this occurs the annular member 15 associated with the faster rotating driving wheel rotates ahead of its associated block or disk 18. When this takes place the dogs 20 are moved from their locking positions previously assumed to their neutral positions, or nearly to their neutral positions. this being pe'mitted by the lost motion between the parts, the torsional spring of rocker shaft 28, or both. The annular member 15 associated with the faster mo ing wheel ratchets ahead of its associated dogs 20, after this operation has occurred,

the rocker shaft servin to )revent the do s 'associated with the faster moving waeel from being moved to locking position during the ratcheting operation. As soon as the rates of rotation of the driving wheels areagainthe same the driving wheels are positively driven from the axle as before. lVhen the axle 7 is driven in reversed direction to more the vehicle backward the same operation occurs except that in this case the cam surfaces 21 of the blocksor disks 18 engage the cam surfaces 21 of the dogs 20 to accomplish the locking of the parts.

Let us now assume that the vehicle is traveling down hill with the engine driven from the driving wheels through the transmission mechanism. If in such a case the machine is traveling forward the cam surfaces 21 of dogs 20 are brought into engagement with the cam surfaces 21 of the blocks or disks 18. l f when the rear axle is being driven from the wheels, as set forth, the direction of the vehicle is changed, the shaft continues to rotate with the faster revolving wheel. Vihen this occurs the dogs 20 associated with the slower wheel are, on account of the rocker arms 28, prevented from slipping back so that the cam surfaces 22 of said dogsmay engage the cooperating cam 18 associated In other with the slowermoving wheel.

words when the axle is being driven from the driving wheels if the vehicle departs fromra straight line of travel the dogs 20 assoclated w th the slower moving wheel are permitted to slip or ratchet with thg: annu lar member 15 associated with the slower moving wheel, and the axle ratchets ahead of the slower noving wheel.

The modified embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. i is illustrated in connection with the wheel. of the wire spoke type. In this view the axle is shown at 40, and loosely mounted upon each end of the axle are disks 41 and d2 which are provided with integral hubs and which are secured together to constitute a housing'for a disk or block 4-3 in all respects similar to the corresponding disks or blocks 18 illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. i the annular members arranged to cooperate with the disks a3 are illustrated at 4L4: and are formed integral with the disks 42, the disks 42 being provided with suitable flanges to provide brake drums, as illustrated. It will be seen that in the form of my invention shown in Fig. 4, access to the locking devices associated with each wheel is permitted through an opening at the outside of the wheel normally closed by a closure plate 45 threaded upon the hub of the plate il. The devices for locking the disks 43 with respect to the wheels are identical with the corresponding parts illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated at 50 a portion of a block or disk generally similar to the blocks or disks illustrated in Fig. 2-, and associated with the block or disk 50 is a ring 51, generally similar to the ring 26 shown in Figs. 1. and 2. It will be noted that the disk 50 is rabbeted at 52 to receive a flange 53 formed integral. with the ring 51. This arrangement is particularly useful in arrangements such as the one illustrated in Fig. l, the flange and rabbeted arrange ment effectually serving to prevent relative displacement of the disk and ring.

In the embodiment of my invention illus-' trated in Fig. 6, the vehicle axle is illus'-' trated at 60, and at 61 is shown a sleeve or housing for the axle, the said housing serving to provide bearings for the vehicle wheels. Each of the vehicle wheels comprlses a hub 62, having roller races 63. (larried by the sleeve 61 are corresponding roller races 64 and interposed between the roller races are rollers 65 as illustrated. Suitable nuts and lock nuts are provided to retain the hubs of the vehicle wheels upon the sleeve or housing 61. Formed integral with the hub of each of the vehicle wheels is a flange 66 which provides a housing for the roller bearings and the devices for locking the vehicle wheel with respect to the axle 60. As is illustrated in Fig. 6 the block or disk 66 corresponding with the block or disk 18 shown in Fig. 1, is splined upon the axle 60 and bolted or screwed to the sleeve 61 is an. annular element 67 corresponding with the annular element 15 illustrated in Figs. 1 and '2. The mechanism for locking the disk 66 to the annular member 67 and for affording connection between the locking devices associated with the mechanism of each driving wheel is identical with the mechanism disclosed in Figs. 1, and 3. Access to the locking devices for each wheel is permitted through an opening normally closed by a. suitable closure plate 68. As illustrated each of the wheels may be of the wire spoke type. Fixed with respect to each wheel is the usual brake drum 69, the purpose of which will be understood by all persons skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

From the above description it will be readily seen t at a large number of embodiments of my invention may be provided without employing the particular constructions herein shown and described.

hat I claim as new and desire to cure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1.1m combination, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted upon the shaft, an annular member fixed with respect to each wheel, said annular members provided with internal teeth, a substantially circular block disposed in each annular member and fixed with respect to the shaft, a plurality of recesses formed in the periphery of each of said blocks, a dog disposed in each of said recesses and provided with teeth arranged to cotiperate with the teeth of its associated annular member, means for connecting the several dogs associated with each block, and devices for connecting said last-mentioned means.

2. In combinatlon, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted upon the shaft, an annular member fixed with respect to each wheel, said annular members provlded wlth internal teeth, a substantially circular black disposed in each annular 1 member and. fixed with respect to the shaft, a plurality of recesses formed in the periphery of each of said blocks, a dog disposed in each of said recesses and provided with teeth arranged to cooperate with the teeth of its associated annular member, a ring for connecting the several dogs associated with each block, and means comprising a rocker shaft for connecting said rings.

3. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted upon the shaft, an annular member fixed with respect to each wheel, a substantially circular block disposed in each of said annular members and fixed with respect to the shaft, a plurality of recesses formed in the periphery of each block, a dog disposed in each of said dogsassociatedwith each block, and mech- V anism for connecting said devices.

at. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted upon'the shaft, an annular member fixed with respect to each wheel, a substantially circular blocl: disposed in each of said annular members and fixed with respecrality of recesses formed in the periphery of each blocl :,'a dog disposed in each of said recesses, each of said blocks and its associated dogs provided with cooperating cam surfaces, a ring for connecting the several dogs associated with each of said blocks, and means comprising a rocker shaft for connecting said rings. 7

In combination, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted on said shaft, an annular member fixed with-respect to eachwheel, a block disposed in each of said annular members and fixed wit-h respectto the shaft, a plurality of recesses formed'in the periphery of each block, dogs disposed in said recesses, said dogs arranged to effect connection between their associated block and the annular member, a ring disposed around each block and arranged to embrace the several dogs associated with the block, and means for connecting said rings.

6; In combination a rotatable shaft a 7 I I l pair of wheels loosely dlsposed on said shaft,

an annular member fixed with respect to each wheel,a block disposed in each of said annular members and fixed with respect to the shaft, a plurality of'recesses formed 1n the periphery of each block, dogs disposed V in said recesses, said dogs arranged to effect connection between their associated block and the annular member, a 'ring disposed around each block and provided with apertures arranged to receive and freely embrace theseveral dogs associated with the block, and means for connecting said rings.

7. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a

' pair of wheels looselymounted on said shaft, an annular member fixed wlth respect to each wheel, a substantially circular block dlsposed n each annular member and fixed with respect to the shaft, a plurality of recesses formedin the periphery of'each of said blocks, a-dog disposed in each of said recesses, said annular'members being provided with internal teeth and said dogs being provided with teeth arranged to co operate with the teeth of the annular member, a ring disposed around each of said blocks and provided with apertures arranged to receive and freely embrace the several dogs associated with the block, and means for connecting said rings. i

8. 'In combination, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted upon the shaft,'an annular member fixed with respect to each of saidwheels, said annular members provided with internal teeth,a substantially to the shaft, a;plu- 7 nular members and fixed with respect to the shaft, plurality of recesses formed in the periphery of each of said blocks, a dog disposed in each of said recesses and provided with teeth arranged to cooperate with the teeth of its associated annular member, a ring encircling each of said blocks and provided with apertures arranged to receive and freely embrace the several dogs asso ciated with the block, and means comprising a rocker shaft arranged tooperatively connect the rings.

9. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted upon the shaft, each of said wheels comprising an an nular iember fixed with respect thereto, a block disposed in each of said annular members, said blocks fixed with respect to the shaft, a recess formed in each of said blocks, a dog disposed in each of said recesses and arranged to operatively connect its associated block and annular member, each of said blocks having cam surfaces arranged to cooperate with its associated dog, means for connecting said dogs, and resilient means normally tending to maintain each of said dogs in engagement with its associated annular member.

10. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted upon the shaft, each of said wheels comprising an annular member fixed with respect thereto, a block disposed in each of said annular members, said blocks fixed with respect to the shaft, a recess formed in each of said blocks. a dog disposed in each of said recesses and arranged to operatively connect its associated block and annular member, each of said blocks having cam surfaces arranged to cooperate with its associated dog, means for connecting said dogs, and spring and plunger mechanism associated with each dog arranged to normally maintain it in engagement with its associated annular member.

11. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted upon the shaft, each of said wheels comprising an annular member, a block disposed in each. offsaid annular members, said blocks being fixed with respect to the shaft, a recess formed in the periphery of each of said blocks, a dog disposed in each of said recesses-and arranged to operatively connect its associated block and annular member, said annular members being provided with internal teethand said dogs being'provided withteeth arranged to cooperate with the teeth of the annular members, each of said blocks having cam surfaces arranged to cooperate with its associated dog, means for connecting said dogs, and resilient means normally tendingto maintain each of said 12. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a

pair of wheels loosely mounted on the shaft,

each of said wheels comprising an annular member, a block disposed in each of said annular members, said blocks being fixed with respect to the shaft, a plurality of re .necting said last-mentioned means.

13-. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted on the shaft, each of said wheels comprising an annular member fixed with respect thereto, a block disposed in each of said annular members, said blocks being fixed with respect to the shaft, a plurality of recesses formed in each of said blocks, a dog disposed in each of said recesses, each of said blocks having cam surfaces arranged to cooperate with its associated dogs, said annular members provided with internal teeth and said dogs provided with teeth arranged to cooperate with the teeth of the annular members, a ring encircling each of. said blocks arranged to con-- nect the several dogs associated with the block, and means comprising a rocker shaft for connecting said rings.

14. In combination, rotatable shaft, a wheel loosely mounted upon said shaft, said wheel comprising an annular member fixed with respect thereto, a substantially circular block fixed relatively to the shaft and disposed in said annular member, a plurality of recesses formed in the periphery of said block, adog disposed in each of said recesses, said block provided with cam surfaces arranged to cooperate with each of the several dogs, a ring disposed around said block and arranged to connect the several dogs, and means operable by the relative movement of the shaft and wheel arranged to move the dogs to lock the block with respect to the annular member.

15. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a wheel loosely mounted upon said shaft, said wheel comprising an annular member fixed with respect thereto, a substantially circular block fixed relatively to the shaft and disposed in said annular member, a plurality of recesses formed in the periphery of said block, a dog disposed in each of said recesses, said block provided with cam surfaces arranged to coiiperate with each of the several dogs, a ring disposed around said block and arranged to connect the several dogs, and means operable by the relative movement of the shaft and wheel arranged to move the dogs to lock the block with respect to the annular member, said annular member provided with internal teeth and said dogs provided with teeth arranged to cooperate with the teeth of the annular member.

16. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a wheel loosely mounted upon said shaft, said wheel comprising an annular member fixed with respect thereto, a substantially circular block fixed relatively to the shaft and disposed in said annular member, a plurality of recesses formed in the periphery of said block, a. dog disposed in each of said recesses,- said block provided with cam surfaces arranged to coiiperate with each of the several dogs, a ring disposed around said block and arranged to connect the several dogs, means operable by the relative movement of the shaft and wheel arranged to move the dogs to lock the block with re- .spect to the annular member, and spring means normally tending to maintain each of said dogs in engagement with the annular member.

17. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a pair of wheels loosely mounted on said shaft, each of said wheels provided with a suitable bearing, an annular member associated with each of said wheels and fixed relatively thereto, a block disposed in each of said annular members and fixed with respect to the shaft, a recess in each of said blocks, a dog disposed in each recess arranged to lock its associated block and annular member, and means for connecting said dogs.

18. In combination, a shaft, a wheel mounted upon the shaft and rotatable with respect thereto, a suitable bearing for said wheel, an annular member fixed with respectto said wheel, a block disposed in said annular member, a recess formed in the periphery of said block, a dog disposed in said block, and means operable by the relative movement of the wheel and block arranged to control the position of said dog.

19. In combination with an annular outer member provided with internal teeth, an inner member provided with a recess, a dog disposedin the recess, said dog provided with teeth arranged to cooperate with the teeth of the annular member, said inner 21. Differential mechanism comprising a driving member provided with major clutch teeth, a driven member having minor clutch teeth, a plurality of clutch members, each havin major clutch teeth in mesh with the teeth of the driving member and minor clutch teeth adapted to mesh with the teeth of the driven member, and means connect-- ing the clutch members to prevent rotative movement of the clutch members relative to the driving member independently of each other.

22. Differential mechanism comprising a driving member and a driven member, one of the members being provided with major clutch teeth and the other with minor clutch teeth, a plurality of clutch devices, each having major clutch teeth in mesh with the majorclutch teeth of the member provided with such teeth, and provided also with mnior clutch teeth arranged to mesh with the minor clutch teeth of the member containing such teeth, and means connecting the clutch devices to prevent rotative movement of the clutch devices relative to the member containing the major clutch teeth independently of each other. 7

23. Differential mechanism comprising a driving part having major clutch teeth, two driven members, each containing fminor clutch teeth, a plurality of clutch members interposed between the driving part and each of the driven members, each clutch member having major clutch teeth in mesh with the teeth of the driving part and minor clutch teeth arranged to mesh with the minor clutch teeth of its associated driven member, and means for permitting and limiting rotative movement of the clutch members associated with one of the driven members relative to the'clu tch members associated with the other driven member and for allowing said clutch members to move toward and from the driven members. i

24,-. Differential mechanism comprising a driving part having major clutch teeth, two driven parts, each containing minor clutch teeth, a plurality of clutch members interposed between the driving part and each one of the driven parts, each clutch memb r having major clutch teeth in mesh with the teeth of the driving part and minor clutch teeth arranged to mesh with the minor clutch teeth of its associated driven part,

means for permitting and limiting rotative movement of the clutch members associated with one of the driven parts relative to the clutch members associated with the other driven part and for allowing said clutch members to move toward and from the driven parts, and yieldable means to urge the clutch members into mesh with the teeth of the respective driven parts.

25. In differential mechanism the combination of a pair of annular driven parts having internal minor clutch teeth, a driving part extending into the driven parts and provided with major clutch teeth, a pair of clutch members, each interposed between the driving part and one of the driven parts, each clutch member having major clutch teeth in mesh with the major clutch teeth of the driving part and having also minor clutch teeth for engagement with the teeth of its associated driven part, and means for permitting and limiting rotative movement of the clutch member associated with one of the driven parts relative to the clutch mem ber associated with the other driven part, and for allowing said clutch members to move toward and from the driven parts.

26. In differential mechanism the combination of a pair or" annular driven parts having internal minor clutch teeth, a driving part extending into the driven parts and provided with major clutch teeth, a plurality of clutch members interposed between the driving part and each of the driven parts, each clutch member having major clutch teeth in mesh with the major clutch teeth of the driving part and having also minor clutch teeth for engagement with the teeth of its associated driven part, and means for permitting and limiting rotative movement of the clutch members associated with one of the driven parts relative to the clutch members associated with the other driven part and for allowingsaid clutch members to move toward and from the driven parts. 7

27. Differential mechanism comprising a pair of annular driven parts having internal minor clutch teeth, a cylindrical driving part extending into the driven parts and provided 011 its periphery with major clutch teeth, a plurality of clutch members inter posed between the driving part and each of the driven parts, each clutch member having major clutch teeth in mesh with the major clutch teeth of the driven part and having also minor clutch teeth for engagement with the teeth of its associated driven part, a pair of rings encircling the driving part, each connecting the clutch members of one of the driven parts but permitting movement of the clutch members toward and from their driven part, and means connecting the rings to permit and to limit relative rotative movement of the rings.

28. Differential mechanism comprising a pair of annular driven parts having internal minor clutch teeth, a cylindrical driv ing part extending into the driven parts and provided on its periphery with major clutch teeth, a plurality of clutch members interposed between the driving part and each of the driven parts,each clutch member having major clutch teeth in mesh with the major clutch teeth of the driving part and having also minor clutch teeth for engagement With urge the clutch members into mesh With the 10 the teeth of its associated driven part, a pair respective driven parts.

of rings encircling the driving part, each In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe connecting the clutch members of one of the my name this 24th day of October, A. D. driven parts but permitting movement of 1914.

the clutch members toward and from their WILLIAM LUXMORE. driven part, means connecting the rings to Witnesses:

permit and to limit relative rotative move- A. G. MOCALEB,

ment of the rings, and yieldable means to H. A. NEIBURGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of-ilatents,

Washington, D. C. v m 

